Fire-escape



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SMALL, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Fl RE-EscAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,850, datedNovemberG, 1883.

' Application filed February 26,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'HENRY SMALL, of Hartford, in the county of Hartfordand State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where Figure l isaview in elevation of abuilding provided with my device, part of thewall being cut away to show the interior of the shaft. Fig.2 is a viewof same in vertical section or plane denoted by line a a: of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a view of the shaft in horizontal section on plane 3 y of Fig.2. I

1 My invention relates to the class of fire-escapes designed to bepermanent features of a building, formed when the building is firsterected, or built in afterward.

It consists of a vertical flue of fire-proof material provided with afixed ladder, doors as a means of access from rooms adjacent to theflue, and a door on the street-level opening outward from the inclinedbottom of the shaft or flue.

In the accompanying drawings,the letter a denotes a building; b,c, andd, rooms adjacent to the hollow shaft or flue 6, built preferably withair-spaces c in the walls as non-conductors of heat;- f, a ladder, as ofviron, firmly se cured to the inner side of the flue on the wallopposite the doors I) c, which open inwardly to the rooms' The ladder isso fastened to the wall as to leave its sides free of obstructions tothe hands of aperson descending it.

The outer walls of the shaft are provided with windows of heavy glass,to light up the inside, and one or more ventillators are placed in theinner wall communicating with the rooms. At the bottom 9 of the shaftthe rear 4 having on the under side a cam-lug, h, so ar- I ranged as topress against a reverse earn, a, fast to the spring-latch j, attached tothe door.

When any pressure-es the weight of a personis thrown upon this flap, itforces it down, draws back the spring-latch, and unlocks and throws openthe door, the inclined way aiding in the exit of the'person from theshaft. 7 The doors fromxthe rooms to the shaft are provided with looksor latches that can be operated from the rooms only, and not from theshaft. Gong-bells are placed in each room,

near the door to the shaft, which door is plainly marked Fire Escape. {Iclaim as my invention- LA vertical shaft or flue, e, having airspaces 6,or their equivalents, formed in the walls, the vertical laddenf, securedto the inner face of the flue, entrance-doors b 0 inclined bottom andautomatic outlet-door It, all sub stantially as described.

2. In a fire-escape consisting of a shaft or flue, 6, having an inclinedbottom, 9, a door,

it, having a hinged flap, h, and spring-bolt j,

whereby the door is opened, substantially as described. p p

3. In combination, door it, bearing sprin bolt j, with cam c, and hingedflap h, having 'cam-lugh, all substantially as described.

HENRY SMALL. Witnesses:

C. L. BURDETT, WM. H. MARSH.

